Apparatus for determining end orientation of produce



Dec. 6, 1966 P. M. L. SIMMONS APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING END ORIENTATIONOF PRODUCE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed June 1, 1965 INVENTOR. PATRICK M. L. SIMMONS ATTORNEYS Dec. 6,1966 P. M. L. SIMMONS 3 APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING END ORIENTATION OFPRODUCE Filed June 1, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN'TOR.

PATRICK M. L. SIMMONS (if y ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1966 P. M. L. SIMMONS3,289,808

APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING END ORIENTATION OF PRODUCE Filed June 1, 19654 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

PATRICK M. L. SIMMONS ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,289,808Patented Dec. 6, 1966 3,289,808 APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING END ORIEN-TATION F FRQDUCE Patrick M. L. Simmons, San Jose, Calif., assignor ofonehalf to Genevieve ll. Magnuson, Saratoga, Calif., and one-half toGenevieve 1. Magnuson, Robert Maguuson, Lois J. Fox, trustees of theestate of Roy M. Maguuson Filed June 1, 1965, Ser. No. 460,230 9 Claims.(Cl. 198-33) This invention relates to an electronic apparatus fordetermining the end orientation of products such as corn, carrots,banana peppers and other produce having a longi tudinal taper on one endand a blunt shape on the other.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved electronicapparatus for determining the end orientation of products havingdifferent configurations at their respective ends.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved electronicapparatus comprising a predetermined array of light-sensitive cells andlight sources located at the output end of a shufile feed or on aconveyor for determining the orientation of elongated objects which havedifferent configurations at their res ective ends so that only suchobjects which have the same orientation are fed into a processingapparatus.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art to which it relates from the following specification,claims and drawing.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a product endpositioner which was developed to solve the problem of random endorientation of such products as corn, carrots, banana peppers :and otherproduce whose physical appearance comprises a longitudinal taper on oneend and a blunt shape on the other. It is desirable in the processing ofthese products to have them oriented so that they enter the processingapparatus all in the same orientation so that the efiiciency of theprocessing apparatus may be maintained. For example, in the processingof corn where the kernels areto be removed from the cob, if the corn isfed into the machine with the blunt end first when the machine isadjusted to receive the corn oriented with the tapered end first, thenet result is that from 10% to 40% of the corn kernels will be left onthe cob, depending on the specific shape of the cob. Likewise, in theprocessing of other similar produce too large a percentage thereof iswasted by machines used to process it if the article is not presentedthereto with the proper end first. Other features and details of thisinvention will be set forth in the specification, claims and drawing, inwhich, briefly:

FIG. 1 is a view showing this invention applied to a single fileconveyor showing the light-sensitive cell apertures such that only thetip of the tapered end of an ear of corn would obscure one of theapertures when this end of the ear is presented to the array oflight-sensitive cells first;

FIG. 2 is a view showing the blunt end of an ear of corn (in brokenoutline) presented to the light-sensitive cell array, and this viewshows all of the light-sensitive cells being obscured;

FIG. 3 is a view of the output end of one file of a shufile feed showingthis invention applied thereto;

FIG. 4 is an end view of one file of a shufile feed showing an ear ofcorn (in broken outline) being reoriented as it leaves the shufile feed;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the electronic control employed inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of one of the photoelectricamplifiers employed in the arrangement shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic wiring diagram of one of the pulse coincidenceamplifiers shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a schematic wiring diagram of the power switch employed in thearrangement shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic wiring diagram of the power supply employed in thearrangement shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawing in detail, reference numerals 10 and 11designate belts forming a V conveyor between them such as disclosed inapplication, Serial No. 122,970 filed July 10, 1961, now Patent No.3,212,621 and assigned to a common assignee, for conveying articles ofproduce to a processing apparatus (not shown). The photoelectric cellhousing 12 is attached to the end of the conveyor by means of suitablebrackets so that the top of this housing is substantially in alignmentwith the bottom of the V in the conveyor. The top of this photoelectriccell housing 12 is provided with apertures 13, 14 and 15 below which thephotoelectric cells 16, 17 and 18, respectively, are positioned toreceive light from the light sources 19, 20 and 21, respectively, shownin broken outline. These light sources are positioned in suitablehousings supported on frame members of the conveyor system.

Suitable ramps 22 and 23 are positioned beyond the housing 12. The ramp22 is aligned with the conveyor to receive ears of corn when they arepresented in orientation designated by the ear of corn 24. The corn inthe undesired orientation shown by the broken outline 25 is shifted tothe ramp 23 by the air jet supplied from nozzle 26 which is controlledby a valve actuated by a simple solenoid 27. On the other hand, thisvalve structure and solenoid may be of the type shown in Patent No.2,950,424.

The light-sensitive cells 16, 17 and 18 and the rotary solenoid 27 areconnected in accordance with the diagram of connections shown in FIG. 5and described hereinafter.

This invention may also be used with a shufiie feed of the typedisclosed in Patents Nos. 2,738,816 and 2,792,929, and in that case adifferent configuration for the apertures 13a, 14a and 15a of thelight-sensitive cells is employed. Thus, the light-sensitive cellhousing 12a in this case is positioned under the end member of one fileof the shufile feed. Apertures 13a, 14a and 15a are. provided in thismember so that light from the light sources in the housings 29, 19a. 20aand 21a is projected to the lightsensitive cells in the housing 12athrough these apertures when no corn or other produce is interposed. Abracket 31 is provided for supporting the light sources and this bracketis attached to the shufile feed frame. A rotary solenoid 29 is alsoattached to the frame of the shuffie feed and this solenoid is providedwith an arm 32 which is rotatable thereby so that it is adapted to bemoved upward, as shown in FIG; 4, when the solenoid is energized wherebythe orientation of the ear of corn may be shifted through the impositionof this arm 32 before the ear of corn is deposited on the conveyor 33.The conveyor 33 may be made up of two belts arranged in a Vconfiguration. A part of this conveyor, shown in FIG. 4, is broken awayto expose the solenoid 29.

Light-sensitive cells 16, 17 and 18 which are positioned under apertures13, 14 and 15, respectively, are connected to the inputs of amplifiers34 and 35, as shown in FIG. 5. Each of these amplifiers is connected asshown in FIG. 6, in which the detail wiring diagram thereof isillustrated. It will be noted that the light-sensitive cell 16 isconnected across a capacitor 36 which may be variable and which isemployed to delay the signal from this cell in order to give the corn orother produce being processed enough time to settle in position withrespect to all of the light-sensitive cells before a measurement ismade. Lightsensitive cell 16 functions as the trigger cell supplying thetrigger input to amplifier 35. Light-sensitive cells 17 and 18 areconnected in parallel to the input of amplifier 34.

The schematic diagram, FIG. 5, shows this apparatus as comprising fouramplifier units 34, 35, 34a and 35a, pulse coincidence amplifier 37,power switch 38, power supply 39 and solenoids 27 and 27a connected tothe output. Thus, the apparatus shown is actually a dual arrangementdesigned to work with a left and a right sensor and actuator associatedwith the left hand and right hand files of the shufile feed or with twoV-belt conveyors. The light-sensitive cells 16, 17 and 18 are positionedto sense the file proceeding on the right hand side of the shuffle feed,whereas, the light-sensitive cells 16a, 17a and 18a are positioned tosense the file proceeding on the left hand side of the shuttle feed.

The amplifier shown in FIG. 6 illustrates one of the amplifiers 34, 35,34a and 35a, shown in FIG. 5, and each of these amplifiers employs threetransistors 48, 41 and 42. The base of transistor 48 is connected to thelightsensitive cells 17 and 18 although only one cell 18 is shown. Inthe case of amplifier 35, the base of transistor is connected tolight-sensitive cell 16 and capacitor 36. The base of transistor 48 isalso connected to the 12-16 volt supply line 43 through resistor 44. Thecollector of this transistor is connected to line 43 through resistor 45and to the base of transistor 41 through resistor 46. The emitters oftransistors 46 and 41 are connected together to provide emitter-coupledfeedback and they are both connected to the ground line 49 throughresistor 47. The base of transistor 41 is connected to ground line 49through resistor 48. Resistors 45, 46 and 48 are connected in seriesbetween the 12 volt supply line 43 and ground 49, and the base oftransistor 41 is connected to the common connection between resistors 46and 48. The collector of transistor 41 is connected to the supply line43 through resistor 58. This collector is also connected to the cathodeof diode 51, the anode of which is connected to the base of transistor42. The anode of diode 51 and base of transistor 42 are also connectedto the upper terminal of resistor 52, the lower terminal of which isconnected to the ground line 49. A capacitor 51a is connected acrossdiode 51. The collector of transistor 42 is connected to the outputterminal 53 and to the lower terminal of resistor 54, the upper terminalof which is connected to the line 43 and terminal 55. The emitter oftransistor 42 is connected to ground line 49.

One section of the pulse coincidence amplifier 37 is shown in FIG. 7.This section is provided with input terminals 56 and 57 which areconnected to the bases of transistors 64 and 69, respectively. The othersection of this amplifier is the same as that shown in FIG. 7 and it isprovided with corresponding input terminals 56a and 57a which areconnected to the outputs of amplifiers 34a and 35a, respectively.Terminal 68 is connected to the power supply line 61 which is connectedto a terminal on the power supply 39. Terminal is common to bothsections of the pulse coincidence amplifier. The output terminal 69 ofthe pulse coincidence amplifier is connected to the terminal 63 of apower switch 38. The corresponding output terminal 59a of the othersection of the amplifier is connected to a similar terminal 63a of powerswitch 38. The ground terminal 58 of this amplifier is connected to theground line 62.

The pulse coincidence amplifier shown in FIG. 7 is provided withtransistors 64 to 78 inclusive of which transistors 64 and 69 areprovided with signals from photo amplifiers 34 and 35, respectively. Thesignals supplied to transistor 69 is referred to as the trigger input.

The collectors of transistors 64, 66, 67 and 69 are connected to the12-16 volt positive supply line 71 through resistors 72, 73, 74 and 75,respectively. The collectors of transistors 65, 68 and 78 are connecteddirectly to the positive supply line 71. The emitters of transistors 64,65, 66, 69 and are connected to the ground line 81 through resistors 76,77, 78, 79 and 80, respectively. The emitter of transistor 67 isconnected to the emitter of transistor 66 to provide emitter-coupledfeedback and both of these emitters are connected to the ground line 81through resistor 78. The emitter of transistor 68 is connected to thebase of transistor 66 to provide a capacitive regenerative feedbackwhich is variable by varying the strength of the signal applied to thebase of transistor 68. The cathode of diode 82 is connected to thecollector of transistor 64 and to the lower terminal of resistor 72. Theanode of diode 82 is connected to the base of transistor 65, to thelower terminal of resistor 84, and to the anode of diode 83. The upperterminal of resistor 84 is connected to the positive line 71. Thecathode of diode 83 is connected to the emitter of transistor '78.Diodes 82 and 83 form a coincidence and gate which allows transistor 65to be conductive only when the signals at the cathodes of these diodesare simultaneously positive.

One side of the capacitor 85 is connected to the collector of transistor69 and the other side of the capacitor is connected to the base oftransistor 78 and to the anode of diode 86, the cathode of this diodebeing connected to the ground line 81. Capacitor 85 differentiates thesquare wave pulse generated by transistor 69 and the diode 86 ispolarized so that it bypasses one of the differentiated signals aroundtransistor 78. Thus, only the differentiator signal from the rise of thesquare wave pulse is applied by transistor 72 to the cathode of diode83.

A relatively short pulse on the order of 3 milliseconds is supplied fromtransistor 65 to the base of transistor 66 through diode 87, the anodeof which is connected to the emitter of transistor 65 and the cathode ofwhich is connected to the base of transistor 66. Transistors 66, 67 and68 form a multivibrator which is basically of the Schmitt trigger typewith a very long coupling time constant and regenerative feedback whichalters the bistable Schmitt trigger circuit to monostable multivbrator.This multivibrator functions as a pulse stretcher circuit with arelatively high amplification factor and it is capable of beingtriggered by a pulse a millisecond long to provide an output pulse whichmay be adjusted by a variable RC circuit 98, 91 from approximately 100milliseconds to several seconds.

The base of transistor 67 is connected to the common connection betweenresistors 88 and 89. Resistors 73, 88 and 89 are connected in seriesbetween the positive supply line 71 and the ground line 81. The lefthand terminal of resistor 88 is connected to the collector of transistor66 and also to the bottom terminal of resistor 73 and the lower terminalof resistor 88 is connected to the ground line 81. The collector oftransistor 67 is connected to the upper terminal of capacitor 90 and thelower terminal of this capacitor is connected to the upper terminal ofthe potentiometer 91. The variable contact of potentiometer 91 isconnected to the base of transistor 68 and the lower terminal ofpotentiometer 91 is connected to the upper terminal of resistor 91a. Thelower terminal of resistor 91a is connected to the ground line 81. Adiode 92 is connected across potentiometer 91 and 91a to dischargecapacitor 98 after the output pulse duration to provide improveduniformity of output pulse duration. The variable contact 93 of thepotentiometer provides means for adjusting the length of the outputpulse, as previously mentioned, by controlling the bias applied to thebase of transistor 68, which providesthe feedback to the base oftransistor 66. For this purpose, the emitter of transistor 68 isconnected to the base of transistor 66 while the collector of transistor68 is connected to the positive supply line 71.

The output supplied to terminal 59 of the amplifier is derived from thecollector of transistor 67. This output is supplied to terminal 63 ofthe power switch 38, the

1 a3 wiring diagram of which is shown in FIG. 8. The power switchincludes two similar units, each of which is to be supplied from aseparate pulse coincidence amplifier, such as shown in FIG. 7.Corresponding parts of the second unit of the power switch are indicatedby the same reference numeral as in the first unit except that thesuffix 61" is added to each of the reference numerals of the secondunit.

The first unit is provided with an input terminal 63 and a groundterminal 94 which is common to both units. Terminal 63 is connected tothe cathode of diode 95', and the anode thereof is connected to the baseof transistor 96. The emitter of transistor 96 is connected to theground line 94 through resistor 101, and the collector of thistransistor is connected to the 24 volt line 1119 through resistors 103and 111 1 which are connected in series. The common connection ofresistors 1153 and 1114- is connected to the base of transistor 97. Thecollector of transistor 97 is connected to the ground line 94 throughresistor 102, and the emitter of this transistor is connected to thepositive 24 volt line 109 through resistor 105. The emitter oftransistor 97 is also connected to the base of transistor 93. Thecollector of transistor 98 is connected to the cathode of diode 99, tothe anode of diode 1%, and to the output terminal 198. The anode ofdiode 99 is connected to the ground line 941. The cathode of diode 109is connected to the emitters of transistors 98 and 98a and to thecathode of diode 106, the anode of which is connected to the positive 24volt line 1119 which is provided with a terminal 107 that is connectedto the output terminal 111 of the power supply 39.

Output terminal 111% of power switch 38 is connected to one side of thesolenoid 111 and the other side of this solenoid is connected to theground line 62. Output terminal 198a of power switch 38 is connected toone side of the solenoid 112 and the other side of this solenoid isconnected to the ground line as.

The wiring diagram of the power supply 39 is shown in FIG. 9. This powersupply includes a transformer 113 having a primary that is adapted to beconnected to a conventional 115 volt, 60 cycle power supply and asecondary, the output of which is rectified by rectifiers 114,, 115, 116and 117. One side of the secondary is connected to the anode of diode114 and to the cathode of diode 116. The other side is connected to theanode of diode 115 and the cathode of 117. The anodes of diodes 116 and117 are connected together and to the ground line 118 and terminal 119.The cathodes of diodes 114 and 115 are connected together to the inputof the filter circuit, including capacitors 120 and 121, and to outputterminal 110. The terminal 119 is also connected to the cathodes ofdiodes 114 and 115 to supply the unfiltered 24 volt rectified A.C. forthe solenoids 111 and 112 through power switch 33.

A resistor 112 is connected between the upper terminals of capacitors120 and 121 and resistor 123 is connected between the upper terminal ofcapacitor 121 and the collector of transistor 12 1. Transistor 12 1functions as a series voltage regulator and transistors 127 and 130 forman amplifier supplying bias to the base of transistor 12 thecollector-emitter circuit of which is connected in the positive lineleading to the output terminal 136. A resistor 125 is connected betweencapacitor 121 and a common connection between capacitor 129 and thelower terminal of resistor 126. The lower terminals of capacitors 120,121, 128 and 129 are connected to the ground line 118. The upperterminal of capacitor 128 is connected to the collector of transistor124., and the upper terminal of the resistor 126 is connected to thecollector of transistor 127. The emitter of transistor 127 is con nectedto the base of transistor 128 and the base of transistor 127 isconnected to the collector of transistor 130 and to the lower terminalof resistor 132. The emitter of transistor 130 is connected to thecathode of diode 131 and the anode of this diode is connected to theground line 118. The emitter of transistor 13% is also connected to thelower terminal of resistor 133 and the upper terminal of this resistoris connected to the emitter of transistor 124 and to the anode of diode134. The cathode of diode 134 is connected to the upper terminal ofresistor 132 and to the right hand terminal of resistor 134. The lefthand terminal of this latter resistor is connected to the commonconnection between resistors 122, 123 and 125. The emitter of transistor124 is connected to the upper terminals of resistors 133 and 137, and tothe upper terminal of capacitor 138 and also to the output terminal 136which supplies the current to the photo amplifiers 3 1 and 35 and thepulse coincidence amplifier 3'7. Resistors 137, 1.19 and are connectedin series between the ground line and the output line leading toterminal 36 and resistor 139 is provided with a variable contact 139awhich is connected to the base of transistor 139. Variable contact 13%provides a control whereby the output voltage supplied at terminal 136may be varied between certain limits. The operation of this apparatusmay be summarized as follows: When the produce, for example, the ear ofcorn 24, is positioned on the conveyor 1011 with the tapered end thereofforward as shown in FIG. 1, the light-sensitive cell 16 under aperture13 will be covered by the forward end of the ear of corn, whereas, thelight-sensitive cells 17 and 18 positioned in the apertures 1-1 and 15,respectively, will be uncovered. Since this is the desired orientationof the ear of corn, the circuit does not respond to this condition andthe ear of corn 2-1 is allowed to proceed forward onto the channel 22.However, if the ear is proceeding from the conveyor 111-11 with theblunt end first, as shown in FIG. 2, all three light-sensitive cells 16,17 and 18 are covered. The trigger signal from cell 16 is delayed byvirtue of the electrolytic capacitor are connected across the cell inorder to give the ear of corn enough time to settle in the properposition before a measurement is made. This capacitor is not necessarywhen this apparatus is used with V-belt conveyor shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.It is used only when the apparatus is employed with the shufi le feedshown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

When the corn covers all three cells 16, 17 and 18, a positive pulseoccurs that the trigger input 57 of the pulse coincidence amplifier anda positive DC. level of approximately 12 volts is established at thedata input, that is, the terminal 56 of the amplifier. Capacitor 85,which is connected to transistor 269, differentiates the square wavepulse produced by this transistor. Thus, a pulse is supplied at theforward end of the square wave pulse and at the trailing end of thispulse. One of these pulses, that is, the negative or trailing pulse, isbypassed through the diode 86 to the ground line 81, and the other istransmitted to the base of transistor 79. Diodes 82 and 83 form acoincidence AND gate connected to the base of transistor 65, and thisgate allows the transistor to conduct only when the signals at thecathodes of diodes 82 and 83 are simultaneously positive. Transistor 65produces a three millisecond output pulse from the emitter thereof whichis applied through diode 87 to the base of transistor 6'5. Transistorsd7 and 68 constitute a monostable multivibrator circuit which produces arelatively long output pulse from a relatively short input pulse. Theinput pulse is the three millisecond output pulse from the emitter oftransistor 65. The output voltage of the multivibrator rises toapproximately 12 volts D.C., depending upon the external load applied toterminal 59. Transistor 63 conducts current back into the base oftransistor 66, whereby maintaining this transistor in its conductingstate even though the input pulse has expired. The length of the outputpulse supplied to terminal 59 may be adjusted by adjusting the positionof contact 93 of potentiometer 91 so that the output pulse may beadjusted from 101) milliseconds to several seconds. This time may,however, be further 27' adjusted depending upon the values of capacitor90 and resistor 91.

In this apparatus a positive D.C. level exists at input terminal 56 whenthe light-sensitive cells 17 and 13 are uncovered and light is impingingthereon. A positis e pulse occurs at terminal 57 when a product hascovered light-sensitive cell 16 and has just finished passing over thecell and light is restored.

The power switch 38 functions to control energization of solenoids 111and 112 which control air valves 127a and 127, respectively. Solenoid27, shown in FIG. 2, corresponds with one of the solenoids 111 or 112,shown in FIG. 5, and the valve controlled thereby controls the supply ofcompressed air to nozzle 26. The width or length of the pulse suppliedto the solenoid 111 through the power switch transistor amplifier,including transistors 96, 97 and 93, is adjusted as described above topermit the desired amount of air to be supplied to nozzle 26 so that theear of corn proceeding with the blunt end first may be deflected fromthe end of the conveyor 1tl11 to the channel 23 from which the corn maybe passed to another conveyor, if desired.

The operation of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is similar to theoperation of the apparatus just described. In this case, when theapertures 13a, 14a and 15a are covered by the blunt end of an ear ofcorn, the circuit shown in FIG. functions to energize the solenoid 29which corresponds to one of the solenoids 111 or 112. Solenoid 29rotates the arm 32 upward to deflect the ear of corn 28 and cause it toroll over so that the tapered end thereof is turned to the left andfaces in the direction of motion, as indicated by the arrow of theconveyor.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will beunderstood that the invention is capable of variation and modificationfrom the form shown so that its scope should be limited only by thescope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for determining the end orientation of elongated producewhich is tapered at one end and blunt at the other, the combination ofan array of lightsensitive cells arranged in a predetermined pattern,means transmitting light to said cells, means moving elongated taperedarticles in sequence between said light transmitting means and saidcells, said articles each having a blunt end and a tapered end,electrical circuit means connected to said cells, said electricalcircuit means producing an output signal indicating that said taperedarticle is presented to said array of cells in a predeterminedorientation, and means responsive to said output signal to indi cate theend orientation of the article corresponding thereto.

2. In apparatus for determining the end orientation of elongated producewhich is tapered at one end and blunt at the other, as set forth inclaim 1, further characterized in that said means responsive to theoutput signal comprises a solenoid controlling an air jet which isdirected against the article to deflect said article.

3. In apparatus for determining the end orientation of elongated producewhich is tapered at one end and blunt at the other, as set forth inclaim 1, further characterized in that said means responsive to theoutput signal comprises a solenoid having an arm that is actuatedthereby to reorient said article.

4. In apparatus for determining the end orientation of elongated producewhich is tapered at one end and blunt at the other, as set forth inclaim 2, further characterized in that said electrical circuit meanssupplies an electric current pulse to said solenoid and said electricalcircuit means includes means for adjusting the duration of said pulse sothat said solenoid is energized a suflicient length of time for said airjet to deflect said article.

5. In apparatus for determining the end orientation of elongated producewhich is tapered at one end and blunt at the other, as set forth inclaim 1, further characterized in that said light-sensitive cells insaid array are divided into two groups, one of said groups supplying atrigger signal and the other of said groups supplying a datum signal,said electrical circuit means including a coincidence circuit supplyinga pulse to said pulse length adjusting means when both a trigger signaland a datum signal are supplied thereto.

6. In apparatus for determining the end orientation of elongated producewhich is tapered at one end and blunt at the other, as set forth inclaim 5, further characterized in that said article moving meanscomprises a conveyor and said light-sensitive cells are arranged so thatlight to the cell supplying the trigger signal is interrupted first whensaid article is moved by said conveyor so that the tapered end of saidarticle is pointing in the direction of motion, said cells also beingarranged so that the light to both of said cell groups is interruptedwhen the blunt end of the article is pointed on said conveyor in thedirection of motion.

7. In apparatus for determining the end orientation of elongated producewhich is tapered at one end and blunt at the other, as set forth inclaim 5, further characterized in that said article moving meanscomprises a shuflie feed mechanism and said light-sensitive cells arearranged in a pattern such that light is interrupted to all of the cellsonly when the blunt end of the article is presented thereto.

3. In apparatus for determining the end orientaton of elongated producewhich is tapered at one end and blunt at the other, as set forth inclaim 4, further characterized in that said means for adjusting theduration of the pulse comprises a monostable multivibrator having afeedback circuit with means for varying the effect thereof controllingthe duration of the pulse produced by said multivibrator.

9. In apparatus for determining the end orientation of elongated producewhich is tapered at one end and blunt at the other, as set forth inclaim 1, further characterized in that said means responsive to theoutput signal comprises a solenoid controlling means for deflecting thearticle when said solenoid is ener ized, and said means for adjustingthe duration of the pulse comprises a monostable multivibrator having afeedback circuit with means for varying the effect thereof controllingthe duration of the pulse produced by said multivibrator to energizesaid solenoid long enough to deflect said article.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1934 Cockrell2S0223 X 7/1957 Brennan 250-223 X

1. IN APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE END ORIENTATION OF ELONGATED PRODUCEWHICH IS TAPERED AT ONE END AND BLUNT AT THE OTHER, THE COMBINATION OFAN ARRAY OF LIGHTSENSITIVE CELLS ARRANGED IN A PREDETERMINED PATTERN,MEANS TRANSMITTING LIGHT TO SAID CELLS, MEANS MOVING ELONGATED TAPEREDARTICLES IN SEQUENCE BETWEEN SAID LIGHT TRANSMITTING MEANS AND SAIDCELLS, SAID ARTICLES EACH HAVING A BLUNT END AND A TAPERED END,ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CELLS, SAID ELECTRICALCIRCUIT MEANS PRODUCING AN OUTPUT SIGNAL INDICATING THAT SAID TAPEREDARTICLE IS PRESENTED TO SAID ARRAY OF CELLS IN A PREDETERMINEDORIENTATION, AND MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID OUTPUT SIGNAL TO INDICATE THEEND ORIENTATION OF THE ARTICLE CORRESPONDING THERETO.